FED E RAL COMMUNIC A T IONS COMMISS ION WASH I NGT ON O FFI CE OF THE CHAI R MAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Anna G. Eshoo U.S. House of Representatives 202 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Eshoo: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission' s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that wiJI support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase 1 will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission' s ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase l. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission' s Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Anna G. Eshoo The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FED E RAL C OMMUNIC A T IO N S C OMM ISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan U.S. House of Representatives 2231 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Lujan: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census bJocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Ben Ray Luján The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. F EDE R AL COMMUNICAT IONS C OMMISSION W ASHINGTON OFFICE OF T HE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Bobby L. Rush U.S. House of Representatives 2188 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Rush: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks--those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC' s minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission' s Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase l auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Bobby L. Rush The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMM ISSION WASHING T O N OFFICE OF T H E CHAI RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Darren Soto U.S. House of Representatives 1429 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Soto: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as we11 as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as I 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those I 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Darren Soto The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERA L COMM U NICATI ONS C OMMIS SI ON WASH ING TON O FFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Dave Loebsack U.S. House of Representatives 1211 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Loebsack: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are I 0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase ll will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Dave Loebsack The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS C OMMISSION WASHI NGT ON OFF ICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Debbie Dingell U.S. House of Representatives 116 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Dingell: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those I 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase n will make available at least $4.4 billion to filJ in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Debbie Dingell The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERA L C OMMU NICAT IONS C OM M IS S ION WASHI N G T O N OFFI CE OF T H E CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Diana DeGette U.S. House of Representatives 2368 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman DeGette: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as wel I as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as l 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase 1 will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 miJlion Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those I 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Diana DeGette The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL C OMM U NICATIONS C OMMISSION W ASHINGTON O F F ICE OF THE CHAI R MAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable A.Donald McEachin U.S. House of Representatives 314 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman McEachin: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as I 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 biJJion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable A.Donald McEachin The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL C OMMUNICAT IONS C O MM ISSIO N W ASH I NGTON OFFI C E OF THE C H AIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Doris Matsui U.S. House of Representatives 2311 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Matsui: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission' s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 bi11ion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as l 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. ln order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it 1s critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is aJready an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Doris Matsui The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL COMMUNICAT IONS C OMMISSION WASHI NGT ON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Eliot L. Engel U.S. House of Representatives 2462 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Engel: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission' s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as l 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks--those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's m inimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are I 0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make avaHable at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase l. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Eliot L. Engel The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. F E DERAL C OMM U NICAT IONS C OMMISSION WASH I NGT ON OFFICE OF THE CHAI R MAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Frank Pallone U.S. House of Representatives 237 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Pallone: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 mi llion Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase lI will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission' s ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Frank Pallone The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. F EDE RAL C O M M U NICATIONS COMMISSION W ASH INGTON OFFICE OF THE C H AIR MAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable G.K. Butterfield U.S. House of Representatives 2080 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Butterfield: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are I 0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable G.K. Butterfield The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FED ERAL COM MUN ICATIONS C OMMISSION W ASHINGTON OFFICE O F T H E C H A I RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Jan Schakowsky U.S. House of Representatives 2367 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky: Thank you for your Jetter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as weH as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those l 0.4 miJJion rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission' s ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Jan Schakowsky The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERA L C OM MU NICATIONS C OMMISSION WASHI N GTO N OFFICE OF T H E CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Jerry McNemey U.S. House of Representatives 2265 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman McNemey: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase l auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Jerry McNerney The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL C OMMUNICATIO N S C OMM I SS ION WASHING TON OFFICE OF T HE CHAI RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Kurt Schrader U.S. House of Representatives 2431 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Schrader: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. 1 have seen for myself what affordable high-speed lnternet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are I 0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make avajlable at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Kurt Schrader The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FED ERA L C OMM U N ICATIONS C OMMISSION W ASHI NGT ON OFFI CE OF THE CHAI RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Marc Veasey U.S. House of Representatives 1519 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Veasey: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission' s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 biUion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Marc Veasey The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERA L COMMUNICATIONS C OMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF TH E CHAI RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Mike Doyle U.S. House of Representatives 306 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Doyle: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as l 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are l 0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Mike Doyle The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. F E D ERA L C OMMUNICATIONS C OMMISSION WASHINGT ON OFFICE OF THE CHAI R MAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Paul Tonko U.S. House of Representatives 2463 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Tonko: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed lntemet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That' s why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as I 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are J0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those l 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase II will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission' s ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Paul Tonko The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. F E D ERAL C OM M U NICATION S COMMISSION W ASHINGT ON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Peter Welch U.S. House of Representatives 2303 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Welch: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. l have seen for myself what affordable high-speed internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. lt is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase 1 will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are l 0.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those l 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase IT will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Peter Welch The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FED E RAL C OMMUNICATIONS C OMMISSION W A S HIN G TO N OFF ICE OF THE CHAIRMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Robin Kelly U.S. House of Representatives 1239 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Kelly: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. l have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community- for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that wi II provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase IT will make available at least $4.4 biJlion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission' s ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Robin Kelly The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERAL COM M U N ICATIONS COMMISSION W A SHING TON OFFI CE O F THE CHAI RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Tom O'Halleran U.S. House of Representatives 126 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman O'Halleran: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today's, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as I 0.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those I 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase ll will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Tom O'Halleran The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDERA L C O M MUNICAT IONS C O M MISS ION WASHI N GTON O FFICE O F T H E C HAI RMAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Tony Cardenas U.S. House of Representatives 2438 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Cardenas: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses- as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks- those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard-ill order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are 10.4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those I 0.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase Il will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission's ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase l. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission' s Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Tony Cárdenas The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. FEDER AL COMMUNICATIONS C OMMISSION WAS H INGTON OFFICE OF T HE CHAI R MAN August 26, 2020 The Honorable Yvette D. Clarke U.S. House of Representatives 2058 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Clarke: Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Closing the digital divide is my top priority. I have seen for myself what affordable high-speed Internet access can do for a community-for its families, its schools, its hospitals, its farms, its businesses-as well as the impact of its absence. It is imperative that the Universal Service Fund support sustainable, future-proofed networks that will support tomorrow's broadband applications, as well as today' s, and that we stretch our limited Universal Service Fund dollars as far as we can. That's why, when the Commission adopted final rules for the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund last January, we established a two-phase reverse auction that will provide up to $16 billion in universal service support for up to gigabit service to as many as 10.4 million unserved Americans. Phase I will target wholly unserved census blocks-those areas where no one disputes that there is no fixed broadband service that meets the FCC's minimum standard- in order to make sure that those areas get service as quickly as possible. Those are J0 .4 million Americans that are missing out on digital opportunity and the economic, educational, healthcare, civic, and social benefits it brings. The current pandemic has highlighted the impact of the digital divide more starkly than ever, and that is why it is unjust to willfully leave those 10.4 million rural Americans who we know are unserved on the wrong side of the digital divide while we try to locate every single American that lacks broadband. Waiting is simply not an option for the unserved. Then, Phase U will make available at least $4.4 billion to fill in the remaining coverage gaps by supporting networks that will serve partially unserved census blocks that will be identified in the Commission' s ongoing Digital Opportunity Data Collection proceeding, along with areas that did not have a winning bidder in Phase I. In order to ensure that taxpayer funding is not spent wastefully or inefficiently, it is critical to avoid overbuilding existing broadband networks. To that end, in March the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau released a list of census blocks and a map of areas that were deemed preliminarily eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, based on the most recent Commission data. The Bureau then commenced a limited challenge process that gave parties the opportunity to identify census blocks that have subsequently become served with voice and broadband services at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or better, and areas where there is already an enforceable commitment for a service provider to deploy 25/3 Mbps broadband in connection with a state or federal broadband subsidy program. Page 2 The Honorable Yvette D. Clarke The Commission has long supported other state and federal efforts to close the digital divide, and our staff continue to engage with states whenever possible to coordinate federal and state broadband deployment funding. Indeed, the very first item I circulated as Chairman was an order to partner with the state of New York to facilitate the Empire State s efforts to get more Americans connected. But the question we faced with the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was a different one, and the basic principle we followed is simple: If a service provider already has been given funding (federal and/or state) and is obligated (by federal and/or state law) to serve a specific area with at least 25/3 Mbps broadband, the FCC is not going to give yet more taxpayer funding to deploy a network in that area. That would be an irresponsible use of limited taxpayer dollars, because we would end up either paying a second provider to deploy broadband in an area where a the federal or state government had already funded a different provider or giving a second-bite windfall to corporations that should not be paid for the same work twice. Either outcome would be at the expense of less funding being directed to areas where broadband will not be deployed without support. Four states Vermont, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana identified areas where they were funding deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband and wished not to be overbuilt. Additionally, 30 service providers identified areas where they were already receiving support from state broadband programs. If a state hadn t already issued a formal funding commitment, that area was not excluded from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction eligible areas. Given our goal not to duplicate funding targeted to a particular area, if a service provider has state- based funding and a commitment to deploy 25/3 Mbps or better service in one area, it cannot receive FCC funding to deliver similar service to that same area. But it would still be eligible to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in other areas in the state that are unserved and not covered by a funding commitment. In total, fewer than 1% of the census blocks initially deemed eligible for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction were removed due to state broadband funding programs, so this restriction had an extremely limited impact on the areas eligible for the auction that will begin in October. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.